Despite all of the politicians involved, this really is not a political issue. It will be resolved through legislation and a lot of politicking, but at the end of the day this issue affects every single one of us, directly or indirectly. We all care about people who struggle with these diseases. We all have family members and friends who struggle with these diseases. Mental illness does not discriminate based on one’s political beliefs, religion, gender, class, ethnicity, or the color of one’s skin. It affects every single one of us, it can be deadly, and we all care, regardless of our political beliefs.
We don’t really know how this will end. However, the reality of the proposed legislation is that if the roll-back begins on “essential health benefits”, we are all at risk. It is the ignorant and misinformed mindset that somehow coverage for mental health is not “essential” that we need to be most concerned about. Those who think they know this to be true are wrong and those who feel this way simply do not have the facts. Ensuring mental health coverage for everyone, or at the very least ensuring that mental health is treated on par with other illnesses, is the right thing to do and it adds value to society in just about every way imaginable.
It will likely take months, maybe years, for a true “repeal and replace” to come to fruition. One can hope that when it does happen, mental health remains a priority, or at least on par with other medical conditions. What has been proposed thus far is indeed extremely concerning, yet we must remember this is just an initial proposal. This is a negotiation. We must keep this in mind and we have plenty of time and opportunity to make our case.
At the core we need to remain focused on key issues, such as increased access to care, real parity, de-stigmatization of these diseases, and ultimately integrated, increased access to treatment for all human beings. This work is truly meaningful. Our patients need us to advocate for them. They deserve it. We can reach out to our congressmen and congresswomen, write about and speak about the issues at every opportunity, and support groups like The Kennedy Forum, who will undoubtedly be continuing to take a leading role in the fight against this misguided mindset and peacefully fight for justice at every corner.
We also believe this is the perfect opportunity for all of us to work together to show the true value of prevention, early detection, and treatment for those who suffer from these diseases. Although is not about money at all for those who genuinely care about the individuals needing their help, if new legislation listens to one thing rational, it is cost. Most of us know that the treatment we provide and the time and money spent on prevention ultimately saves our patients (and society) money. This shows itself in direct costs, such as reduced medical co-morbidity costs, and indirect costs, such as reduced workplace absenteeism and increased productivity. It also makes people healthier, happier, and more productive members of society. We improve medical outcomes that matter to our patients and we do so in a way that saves money for all of us! In other words, we provide value to our patients, their payers, their employers, their families and ultimately to society and government. As we show the world the data that supports these facts (much of which is already well publicized), we will be in a stronger position to protect those who need our help the most at this critical time.
At SunCloud, we understand very well just how difficult it is to quantify the value we as treatment providers are creating for our patients and their families. Unfortunately, most don’t care and few want to listen. Today can mark the beginning of a new day for all of us. By working together to prove to the world just how important it is to support people with mental illness, we can protect the interests of our patients and ensure the best possible outcome for them at this precarious time in history. By focusing on our patients and what matters to them, and by working together to continue to do what we know is right and worthwhile, we will not lose this battle. We can’t lose this battle. Prevention and treatment does in fact create value and we have come too far to settle when this much is at stake.